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“Creation” in the Christian Scriptures

“Creation” in the Christian Scriptures. Jesus Christ is the Word of God existing with God from the beginning… and in the fullness of time became flesh. In him and through him, all things exist… The whole world is not only redeemed in Christ; it is also created in Christ.

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“Creation” in the Christian Scriptures

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  1. “Creation” in the Christian Scriptures Jesus Christ is the Word of God existing with God from the beginning… and in the fullness of time became flesh. In him and through him, all things exist… The whole world is not only redeemed in Christ; it is also created in Christ

  2. In the light of their own experience of salvation in Jesus Christ, Christian writers gradually reflected on the mystery of creation.

  3. New element in the Christian Scriptures: God whom Israel knew as Savior, Lord of history and Creator, is now revealed as Abba – the Father of Jesus the Christ

  4. “Jesus Christ and the Kingdom” - Synoptic Gospels - Allusions to “creation” in the Synoptics are few. “Salvation” – central theme; “creation” – background. Later, “creation” – introduced in liturgy, in preaching; Belief: Christ – plays a mediatory role in creation.

  5. “Kingdom of God” – central in the preaching, ministry of Jesus Christ. “Kingdom” – relates to the Jewish expectation of future fulfillment of God’s promise. Viewing the “Kingdom” metaphor interpreted through parables and miracles --- one discovers relationship between the created order and salvation… God who is communicated in Jesus’ ministry is the God of concern and care for all creation… even the smallest, insignificant…

  6. Created and Redeemed in Christ – St Paul Paul’s personal experience of Jesus led him to interpret, develop and expand his Jewish understanding. Paul attests Christ’s significant role in creation and salvation. Rom 4:1-7 God who raises Jesus from the dead = God of creation Rom 8:28-30 Threefold process of configuration to Christ: created (called to existence), justified, glorified “in Christ.” 1Cor 8:6 Christ as mediator in creation and salvation Eph 1:3-14 Creation in view of the divine sonship in Christ (recapitulation in Christ). Col 1:15-20 Everything is created in, through, and for Christ.

  7. Jesus Christ: Wisdom of God Hebrews • Hebrews 1:1-3, 10-12 Christ – key role in God’s creative activity (beginning and completion). • Wisdom tradition – backdrop of Hebrews: • Wisdom personified; incarnate in Jesus; God creates through the Son (=image of Father, bearer of the fullness of God’s salvation) • Son is presented as… • The Eternal Son active in creation • Incarnate Son – definitive bearer of revelation, agent of salvation • Gloried Christ at the right hand of the Majesty

  8. “Jesus Christ is Logos, creator and vivifier” – St. John • 4th Gospel bears witness to Christ’s essential role in creation (cf. Prologue) • “In the beginning…” = “en arche” (=Genesis 1) • Jn 1:1-18– Jesus Christ = fulfillment of what Hebrew Scriptures wrote about the Word and Wisdom of God. • Created world depends on Jesus Christ, the Logos, Creator and Vivifier; Christ is the finality of all creation • Jn 1:29-34 – John the Baptist identifies Christ as new creation, fulfilling the first creation. (I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove…)

  9. “A New Heaven and a New Earth” – St. Paul and St. John • “New heaven, new earth” = language of salvation; shows close connection between the mysteries of creation and salvation. • To say “salvation” is “new creation” does not mean to destroy meaning, value of creation itself; rather, it sees creation in its relation to its goal • “new creation” ultimately points to eschatological fulfillment of God’s creative aim; within history it takes the form of a genuine life in Christ; it involves the unity of all humanity. • Final goal of the history of creation – new heaven, new earth.

  10. Insights from the Christian Scriptures • Christian Scriptures present no single view of the created world, neither does it present a clear, distinctive physical cosmology. • A good, loving God is the ultimate ground of the world. Thus, the world of creation is fundamentally good. • Yet, the world can gain a demonic power over human beings.

  11. The world of creation can teach us that there is a God to reach for in the human. Spiritual journey. • In Christ, creation finds the anticipation of its eschatological fulfillment. The mystery of Christ pertains to the very structure of creation and its history.

  12. Conclusion • From a scriptural perspective, the purpose and meaning of creation is to make possible the covenant between God and humanity which finds its highest realization in Christ. • Creation-faith is above all the recognition of the absolute power of God who is met in history. This God is not among many, but the one, absolute ground of all reality.

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